Sheriff: More children molested by Auburn teen | News

AUBURN, CA - Sheriff investigators now say there are four alleged victims of a 14-year-old Auburn teen accused of molestation.

The children range in age from 3 to 5.

The suspect is related to the owner of Colored Pencils Preschool and Child Care, 13335 Luther Road, and lives in the same home as the daycare, according to Placer County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Dena Erwin. The youth was arrested Tuesday afternoon on suspicion of lewd and lascivious acts.

The preschool was shut down by the California Department of Social Services after the arrest.

A criminal complaint accuses owner Alma Rosa Arroyo's 14-year old relative of sexually molesting "child number two in June or July," and sexually molesting another child, also in June or July.

The complaint continues Arroyo was informed of the allegations, but refused to acknowledge their seriousness or report them as she's required to do by law. Erwin said it was unclear if Arroyo would face charges but she was being investigated as well.

Inspection reports show the day care has had several violations in recent years, including having too many children left unsupervised when the owner left them with an assistant. The facility was also cited for leaving two empty wading pools unattended.

Most upsetting to locals, the facility was cited for having renters who did not have required fingerprint clearances to stay in the same building.

"Their biggest concern was that they would walk in and it wasn't just children they were seeing, but transient people walking around," neighbor Laura Click said.

A teenager who knows the 14-year-old suspect said he seemed to be an average student.

"He was pretty friendly. He wasn't mean. He was a good kid. He was just quiet," said Cameron Cook, who attended school with the suspect.

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The teen is in custody in Placer County Juvenile Hall.

Erwin said the investigation into possible other victims continues.